Modern-Era Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2005

11/19/2004

Art Monk

Former All-Pro quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young are among the several first-year eligible players who head the list of 25 semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2005. The semi-finalists were chosen by the Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors from the recently announced list of 90 preliminary nominees.

Derrick Thomas

The list of 25 semi-finalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 13 modern-era candidates. That list will then increase to 15 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame's Senior Committee. This year's Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are two of pro football's early pioneers - Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard. The Seniors Committee reviews the qualifications of those players, coaches, and contributors whose careers took place more than 25 years ago. The list of 15 finalists for the Class of 2005 will be announced in mid-January.

To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player must have been retired at least five years. For a non-player, there is not a mandatory retirement period, but a coach must be retired before he may be considered. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.

The Class of 2005 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday February 5, 2005, in Jacksonville, Florida, the day before Super Bowl XXXIX. The election results are announced immediately following the meeting at a press conference at the media headquarters. Hall of Fame bylaws stipulate that between three and six new members will be selected each year.